@JohnCW 

there are two firmware releases from TPLINK for that device:

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/tl-pa8030p-kit/v1/#Firmware

The .pib files are different from one version to the other.

Have you tried with both pib files?

@turboleak thanks so much for providing more detail.

I have WPA8630P V2 devices.  These use a BIN file for firmware updates.

The TL-WPA8630P Kit (V2) comes with one TL-PA8010P V2 which uses different firmware from it's partner, and is the firmware you refer to.  Any ideas if there is any benefit of upgrading the firmware on only half my devices?

I also have one TL-WPA7510, and wonder if you know about updating the chipset?

Do you know if the firmware you shared resolves any of these issues I've noted with the WPA8630 devices?

• Gigabit ports only working as 100baseTX
• Hidden DHCP server enabled under certain conditions

Thanks!

@turboleak 

Appreciate your help.  Yes I have tried both pib files now with MEGA site nvm file (see below) and both times I get a failed update.

QCA75XX-2.8.0.0030_modules_5-6_stripped.nvm

QCA7500-WallAdapter_CE-ClassB_8030P_160328_914.pib

QCA7500-WallAdapter_CE-ClassB_8030P_150209_012.pib

@dunxd 

My fault, I didn't explain it properly on my post.

The WPA8630P is actually two devices in one. Its a PLC device with an AP attached to it, everything in the same package. As such, there are two parts that can be upgraded, the PLC part and the AP part.

So, in your case TPLINK has never provided an update for the PLC part, only for the AP part ( the bin file ). And you update its AP firmware part using the AP web interface.

What is the region of your devices? If it is US, you can try this for the TL-PA8010P v2.0

using the tpPLC utility from TPLINK to flash:

- use the .pib file from this firmware ( its the 8010P v2  )

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/tl-pa8010p-kit/v2/#Firmware

- use QCA75XX-2.8.0.0030_modules_5-6_stripped.nvm posted by @PowerlineFW 

For the TL-PA8630P v2.0 you can try:

- use the .pib file from the V1 european version the the TL-PA8630 ( not the P, but should be the same. The P means that it has the power plug extension on it's face )

- use the same firmware as above.

- note1: the proper firmware should be QCA75XX-2.8.0.0030.nvm but I wasn't able to flash that one. It did work with the one from the 8010. Maybe it works for you

- note2: you are using a .pib file from a V1 and non P version. I am not sure if it will work, or it you can softbrick the device.

- note3: if your region is US, the .pib file is for europe. Again I do not know if this will work.

I don't know if the PLC firmware solves the first issue. The second one appears to be from the PLC+WIFI. TPLINK firmware for AP's is very buggy and unfortunatly TL-8630(P) devices are not yet supported by OpenWRT firmware. V1 are supported and it is what I use. I belive that V2 support will come soon.

Regarding the TL-WPA7510, the PLC chip is from Broadcom. I do not know of firmware releases from them. They typically have far worst support.

@JohnCW 

try flashing the non-stripped version. If it does not work then you may try to flash first to a previous firmware version like 2.7 or 2.6. The folder also have pib files but not for your hardware.

thanks to @encor500 for the 2.7 firmware

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/111229

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xDCy2otO-bzvb-tz24GVjJfJbEBtUE7A 

maybe @Uranium can get us the 2.6 firmware again. I lost my copy of the 2.6 and the ftp site seems to be password protected now

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/111229

@turboleak 

I am on a very old version - 2.0.0.382-05_803111_160328_914 now, if that helps/makes any difference.

Maybe time to upgrade to a company that does a better job of making updates available?

@JohnCW 

is that the version that is on the TP-Link download site?

Indeed, I really don't understand TPLINK. I mean, there is almost no work involved in supplying newer firmware, as they are not the ones writting it, it's Qualcomm. The TPLINK hardware is quite well put together and well priced. It's a pitty indeed.

On another note, if you happen to upgrade in the future, consider the new g.hn based devices. g.hn is a competing standard to homeplug AV ( the ones supported by qualcomm, and broadcom chips ). Homeplug AV hasn't been updated since 6 or 7 years and it appears to be dead. I mean, only qualcomm is still patching up it's firmware but there is really no movement from a protocol point of view. g.hn is recent, and it's been made for 8k streaming.

As far as I know TPLink doesn't have yet any g.hn based device, but it's probably a question of time, as the g.hn is running circles in terms of performance to homeplug AV.

Also, they are not complatible in between, so maybe this can be a problem for existing hardware manufacturers, that want to maintain compatibility with the devices they already released.

some reading for reference:

https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/communications/article/21798170/whats-the-difference-between-homeplug-and-ghn

https://specklepattern.wordpress.com/2019/12/28/powerline-networking-2019-g-hn-versus-homeplug/

@turboleak 

Yes, this was an update that TP Link support gave me a few weeks ago as "the latest".

Well I suppose they have to cut costs somewhere becasue their hardware is a good price value compared to others.

Appreciate the tip on the new technology, I'll check it out.

@JohnCW @dunxd 

this may be of use:

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/99770?page=1

thanks @chaos2oo2 and @bobsnail for the files

2.4.0 for 8010(P)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m7A5N6oHkwodnT-J5lh4UJaxF5YFwAjX/view

2.6.0 for 8010(P)

2.2 2.4 and 2.6 for the 8030

https://app.box.com/v/tl-pa8030p

I have played a bit with the firmware files: I flashed back to version 2.4 and then tried to flash version 2.8 and it didn't work. I had to upgrade first to version 2.6  then to  2.8. Strange, but it worked.